Lamont Butler's teammates are grateful to get PG1 back for March Madness

As deflating as Kentucky‘s 29-point loss to Alabama was in Nashville, the Wildcats are not going home totally empty-handed with optimism out the door going into the NCAA Tournament. For starters, you get the core memory of Otega Oweh‘s game-winner against Oklahoma — an all-time celebration in front of an all-time crowd. That was a short-term high in terms of season impact, though. The long-term optimism came in the hours leading up to the SEC Tournament quarterfinals, Mark Pope sharing that the team received the ‘best possible news’ on Lamont Butler, who suffered yet another setback in the first half against the Sooners.

Pope went from ‘praying like crazy he can find his way back on the floor at some point this year’ after the OU win to saying PG1 would be suiting up again sooner rather than later. Quite the swing for a guy whose value on the team speaks for itself.

“He’s got some soreness, but it was really good news this morning,” Pope said Friday. “We look forward to having him as we move forward.”

The Kentucky head coach was short-winded after taking his first postseason loss with the Wildcats — as frustrated as we’ve seen him since he arrived in Lexington. Brief, but noteworthy.

“It’s a totally different unique injury [than his previous one] and the imaging was perfect so we’re hopeful that he’ll be back in action [for the NCAA Tournament],” he added.

Either way, Butler’s teammates were appreciative of the update from their coach. As we all saw Friday night, the Wildcats need him.

“That’s great. I mean, obviously we were all worried about it,” Koby Brea told KSR. “Just knowing that we have such a big piece that’s going to be able to provide a lot for us going into this tournament, which is obviously the most important thing for us. It would have been good to have him out there tonight, but we have something to look forward to.”

“Lamont is a vital part of our team, so we need him,” Collin Chandler added. “Whatever happens, we’re gonna play the hand we’re dealt and I think tonight was a poor showing of that. But yes, we’re excited to have him back.”

There is obvious excitement knowing Kentucky avoided a disaster scenario with Butler potentially going down for good right when the team needs him most, but also a balance of not living and dying by the fifth-year guard’s on-court presence. Everyone needs to step up no matter the injury situation, something that simply didn’t happen in the loss to the Crimson Tide.

“Obviously, it’s good sign having Lamont back. Having our point guard, one of our best players, it definitely helps,” Ansley Almonor told KSR. “But for the rest of us, you gotta be able to step up too for us to make a deep run in March. We all gotta step up. It can’t just be, ‘Oh, Lamont is playing,’ we all gotta be able to step up on both sides of the ball and be better so we get what we want when it comes to the NCAA Tournament.”

Butler came to Kentucky with a game-winning buzzer-beater in the Final Four to advance to the national championship under his belt. Now is why you make a move for the San Diego State transfer in the portal and get him to lead your program as PG1.

“He’s a great player and a big part of the team, so we’ll be excited to (have him),” Andrew Carr said. “I mean, I didn’t even know about that, to be honest with you, so we’ll see whenever he gets back practicing. But it’ll be great for us.”

“It’s a super big relief,” Otega Oweh added. “I mean, you always want your brothers to play with you, so it’s really good news.”

After a brief scare, things are back on track for the Wildcats health-wise ahead of Selection Sunday.

“I’m always excited when one of our guys come back, just knowing they put in the work to recover and be back out there with us,” Amari Williams told KSR. “They give it 100 percent every time and that’s what they showed, even the guys who weren’t able to return. We’re just thankful that we can get them back.”